Wi-Fi in Schools in Wales

[Olliekai]

Hi, I was wondering what everyone’s experience is with Wi-Fi setups in schools. I know WG provide funding to LEAs for this, so I was wondering how your Wi-Fi setups work? IE who manages it, how much control / access you have, what setup toy have, kit etc?

[3s-gtech]

Our LEA upgraded us all under LiDW in 2014 (n APs and Cisco switches) then again in 2020 (ax APs and Aruba switches).

 

All wifi config and management is centralised, which works well as the support is good. The APs are very good (Cisco) and we have very few issues.

[PotNoodleTech]

All Aruba Switches and WAPS here provided by LA with Ed Tech funding. We had zero choice or input into the design.

 

Sadly, we only have read only access to the admin interface so any small changes that need to be made or checks on ports / vlans / etc have to be sent to the LA helpdesk - so rather than me do it in 60 seconds flat it will likely take them more like 6+ hours.

 

It seems to work OK - the Aruba switches are for sure not as reliable as my old Procurve /Cisco estate that was removed. The WAPS do seem solid.

[Olliekai]

Sounds pretty standard.

[CHiLL]

I didn't know this was a thing in Wales, is this across all LEA/maintained schools in Wales? I presume it differs from what it's like here under an English LEA? We are still a maintained school in Birmingham, though the LEA have absolutely no input on how we scope our setup, since we moved away from their services in 2015.

[3s-gtech]

No MATs in Wales, so LEAs are still relevant. WG has been funding upgrades, and the LEAs have been directing them. For us this started with infrastructure (though not servers as much, due to Hwb) down all the way to end user devices (which we choose).

 

It has suited us as a school.

[Olliekai]

Seems to be the way schools in Wales work, although LEAs can differ as well.

[slugshead]

Last two schools - Full Ruckus, Installed and managed in house.